Bracelet chain



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IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

d@ mbar s. o. BIGNEY BRACELET CHAIN Filed Feb. 18, 1927 Bfy Nov. 27, 1928.

Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES SIDNEY 0. BIGNEY, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSGNOR TO S. O. BGNEY & COMPANY, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

BRACELET CHAIN.

Application led February 18, 1927. Serial No. 169,231

This invention relates to a bracelet chain having a series of iiexible units connecting hooks at its opposite ends tor attaching the bracelet chain to the bails of a wrist Iwatch or the like; and the object of this invention is to provide a bracelet, the link units of which may be extended all in the sam-e direction and having end hooks differently constructed one to be connected to one of the relatively slidable members of the link unit at one end of the bracelet, and the other of the relatively slidable members of the link unit being connected to a hook at the opposite end of the bracelet.

A further object of the invention is the provision of simple and effective means i'or connecting together the separable ends ot' the hook ot' the slide member of each link.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features ot' construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings-z Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved f bracelet construction connected to the bails of a wrist Watch.

Figure 2 is a perspective view ol one of the link units of the bracelet in extended position.

AFigure 3 is a perspective view of the detaching hook for one end of the bracelet.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the dctaching hook at the opposite end of the bracelet.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the bracelet assembled in extended position.

Figure 6 is a central sectional side view ot the hook attached to one end of the bracelet.

Figure 7 is a central sectional side view of the hook attached to the opposite end of the bracelet.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing one construction by which the separable parts of the slide link may be detachably connected together.

Figure 9 is a top view of this link.

Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Figure 8.

It has hertofore been customary Where expanding link units have been employed to provide a connection at the center of the raeelet to dispose these link units in opposite. directions from the center ofthe bracelet and provide end hooks which are similarly constructed to be attached to the same kind of a link of the units at each end of the bracelet,

and in order to avoid the necessity of so connecting the units at the center that they may be expanded in opposite directions, l have provided end hooks'diil-erently constructed, one constructed to be attached to the guide or body member of the link unit and the other to the hook or slide member o't' the link unit, whereby the link units may be disposed in the same direction throughout the length ot' the bracelet to form alike appearance throughout the length ot' the bracelet, also it is itound o'i advantage to lock together the ends ot' the detachable hook of the slide members of the links; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment ot this invention and showing one means by which these advantageous results are obtained lith reference to the drawings, 10 designates a wrist Watch having hails 11 to which the flexible connecting link units 12 may he connected by means of end hooks 13 and 14. Each of the link units 12 comprises a body member 15 in which a link 16 slides endways relative thereto. A spring 17 acts bet-Ween these two link members urging them to contracted position. The slide member 16 is in substantially band shape and split as at 18 adjacent one end with portions 19 overlapping portion 20, the latter of which is sui'iiciently resilient to be pressed inwardly when the members of the unit are in expanded position to permit detachment of or attachment to the cross bar 21 of the body member of an adjacent unit. As will be seen from Figure 5, the link units are all in expanded position and all similarly arranged end to end so that a chain of links of similar appearance throughout the length of the bracelet is presented and the units so connected present the slide member 16 at one end to be attached to the end hook 13 and the body member 15 at the opposite end to be attached to the opposite end of hook 14, but in order that the different hooks may be formed to be readily attached to these diderently constructed links, I have formed the hook 13 with a body portion 22 slotted at its rear end as at 23 to provide a cross bar 24 which is of a similar size to that of the cross bar 21 of the body member of the link unit so as t0 readily receive the attaching hook of the band-shaped slide member by passing the bar 24 through the split portion 18 thereof. The opposite hook 14 is provided With an integral tongue- 25 extending rom the top Wall thereof which may be folded about the bar 21 of the body link of a unit to firmly screw this link thereto, as illustrated in Figure 6.

Each of the end hooks is provided with a resilient tongue 26 With spring means 27 to hold the same in position but permit the tongue to yield suiieiently to be hooked into the bail 11 of the Wrist Watch.

It will be seen that I have provided a braeelet construction which may be expanded, the link units of which are similarly arranged to be expanded all in the same direction by which no break in the continuity of the braeelet While in extended position is presented to the eye thus enhancing the appearance of the salne.

In some instances, it is found of advantage to provide means for locking together the ends of the slide link at the split 18 to strengthen the same and prevent these portionsfrom separating under a heavy strain and toaecomplish this in a simple and effecstanding an excessive endways tension Without separating.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understoodithat I reserve the privilege o'l' resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the 'device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended elaim.

I claim:

A bracelet eomprisinga series of connected units, each unit comprising a body member and a slide member movable relatively thereto from one end only thereof, each of said units being disposed to permit the slide member to extend in the same ldirection from the body member, similar hooks connected to the end. units of the bracelet, one hook having a tongue folded about the body member, and the other hook having a loop throughI which the slide member passes whereby eaeh of said units is exiendible in the same direction and the end hooks are attached to relatively different parts of the end units.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SIDNEY O. BIGNEY. 

